ST. PAUL – Minnesota legislators are moving to tighten controls on thermostats that contain mercury.

The House on Thursday passed a bill to set up a disposal program for old mercury thermostats and ban the sale of new ones. The mercury thermostat restrictions would be the responsibility of manufacturers.

The bill would also ban sale of consumer cleaning products containing triclosan. And it would require the state Pollution Control Agency to use demographic information in considering actions that would affect environmental and human health, to make sure some groups aren't unfairly affected.

The bill goes next to the Senate.

Lawmaker pay

There will be talk about lawmaker pay at the state Capitol, but the salaries of legislators aren't budging anytime soon.

The House planned to debate a bill Thursday that would dictate the composition and role of a special independent pay council. The board would be established if voters adopt a constitutional amendment in 2016 to remove power of lawmakers to set their pay.

The measure's backers say it removes an inherent conflict of interest and takes a politically charged matter out of the Capitol. Opponents see it as camouflage for near-certain pay hikes and argue it lessens accountability.

Legislators haven't seen a pay raise since 1999, and some worry that the $31,000 salary is become a barrier for some prospective candidates. Lawmaker pay is supplemented by expense allowances during session.